Implement for cleaning the interiors of tubes



June 29, 1954 AR. SCRIMINGER 2,632,069

IMPLEMENT FOR CLEANING THE INTERIORS OF TUBES Filed July 1, 1949INVENTOR ARCH/E R; SCR/M/NGER AT TORNEY Patented June 29, 1954 IMPLEMENTFOR CLEANING THE INTERIORS OF TUBES Archie R. Scriminger, Hartford,Conn., assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application July 1, '1949, Serial No. 102,656

7 Claims. (Cl. -104.06)

The invention relates to an implement for cleaning open-ended tubes asfor instance those of 'a surface condenser, and the invention relatesmore particularly to an implement for this purpose which includes acylindrical brush and which is adapted to be driven through the tube byfluid pressure.

The water flowing through condenser tubes is ordinarily not clean andscale and other deposits collect on the interior surfaces of the tubes.Fre quent cleaning or" the tubes is usually necessary and devicesincluding brushes have been proposed and used for this purpose, suchdevices being driven through the tubes by air or other ffuid pressure.These prior devices have been unsatisfactory and the general objectiveof the present invention is to provide an implement of the typementioned which very efiectively cleans the tubes, which will not damagethe condenser or associated parts, and which is strong and durable.

One object of the invention is to provide a piston included in theimplement at the trailing end thereof for enabling air or other fiuidunder pressure to eiiectively drive the implement through the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bumper included in theimplement at the leading end thereof for preventing damage to theimplement or to stationary objects when the implement emerges from thetube at considerable speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide similar members includedin the implement at opposite ends thereof, each of which members isadapted to serve either as a piston at the trailing end or as a bumperat the leading end, the implement being thus reversible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various details ofconstruction whereby the foregoing more general objects are attained.

In the drawing I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of theinvention, but it will be understood that various changes may be madefrom the construction shown, and that the drawing is not to be construedas defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming apart of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a portion of a surface condenser withan implement embodying the invention in place in one of the condensertubes.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the implement.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of theimplement at one end thereof.

Fig. 4. is an end view of one of the rubber members of the implement.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, A, A represent tubes of a surfacecondenser or other apparatus having tubes requiring cleaning. Ordinarilythe tubes are horizontal as shown. The tubes A, A are heldin fixedpositions and in spaced relationship with each other by plates B, Bwhich are vertical when the tubes are horizontal. The condenser also hasend heads, not shown, which are spaced from the plates B, B, and fromthe ends of the tubes. One or both of the heads are re moved when thetubes are to be cleaned.

The implement for cleaning the tubes A, A is represented in its entiretyby 10, this including a unitary cylindrical brush I4 and preferablyincluding two-end members It, I6 fixedly connected with each other andfixedly connected with the unitary brush at the opposite ends thereof. Adetachable handle l2 may be provided for more conveniently placing theimplement in a tube as shown at the left in Fig. 1. When the implementH3 is in place the handle I2 is removed, and a hose, not shown, isapplied to the adjacent end of the tube for supplying air or other fluidunder pressure. The implement H3 is driven through the tube by the fluidpressure, emerging table fibers, or bristles or other animal fibers, or

synthetic fibers, or metallic wires, or any other suitable filaments orbrush material.

The member H5 at one end of the brush I4 is formed of an elasticmaterial such as rubber. The term rubber is herein used in a genericsense and is intended to include natural rubber and compounds thereof,and also various rubber substitutes. Preferably there are two similarrubber members l6 fixedly connected to the brush at opposite endsthereof. Each member 16 has a diameter approximating the diameter of thebrush and its outer end is exposed at the corresponding end of theimplement. As shown, the diameter of each member I6 is slightly lessthan the diameter of the brush.

The member [6 at the leading end of the implement is adapted to serve asa motion limiting bumper for absorbing shock and for preventing damageto the implement itself or to stationary parts when the implementemerges at great speed from the end of the tube and impinges upon thecondenser head or other stationary object. The member [6 at the trailingend of the implement is adapted to serve as a piston which is engaged bythe air or other fluid under pressure in the tube for driving theimplement through the tube. It will be readily understood that in thepreferred embodiment of the invention as shown, either of the twosimilar members It may serve as a bumper and :eithermay serve as apiston. The implement in its preferred form is therefore reversible andeither end thereof may be entered into the tube to be cleaned.

The details of the brush I4 and of the rubber members I6 may be widelyvaried, but the preferred construction as shown in the drawing will nowbe described in detail.

A core member or core is provided having a central body 18 and two heads20 and 22. One head 28 is integral with the body and the other head 22is preferably a nut having threaded engagement with the body. Thecylindrical brush I4 preferably comprises an elongated brush element 24helically wound .to fit the body 18. The brush element 24 may be woundon a separate core and thereafter placed on the body [8. Preferably, thebrush element 24 includes a channelshaped metallic strip 26 having alongitudinal core wire 28 therein and having fibers 3.0 looped aroundthe core Wire and extending transverse- I ly of the strip from the neckbetween the side walls of the channel strip. When the strip 24 is woundon the body 18 the fibers 3.0 are generally radial although varying tosome extent from exactly radial positions.

It will be seen that the core member and the channel-shaped stripthereon constitute a core structure of substantial diameter, thisdiameter as shown being substantially greater than onehalf of thediameter of the brush. Thus the fibers are supported relatively closelyto the tube face and are relatively short. The fibers are stiff and someof them may be metallic wires. The provision of short stiff fibers isimportant as the scale and other deposits in the tube resist removal andcannot be removed to any substantial extent by brushes having longeasily flexed fibers.

Each rubber member 16 has .a portion fitting the central body 18 of thecore member between the brush l4 and the corresponding head 20 or 22.The member [6 extends endwise beyond the corresponding head and has arecess 32 in which the said head is located. The recess 82 is open atthe end, thus providing an annular peripheral wall 34 which isexpansible. The recess 32 is preferably of substantially uniformdiameter.

When the brush [4 is formed by helically winding a brush element such as24, the inner end of each rubber member 16 is shaped to fit the adjacentend of the helically wound brush element. The member l6 has a helicalface with a step or shoulder 36, as shown in Fig. 4, adiacent the end ofthe brush element 24. T'ref: erably each shoulder 36 engages thecorresponding end of the brush element.

When one of the heads of the core member is a threaded nut such as .22,the various parts may be readily assembled and then held in place by thenut. As viewed in Fig. 2, the rubber member I6 at the left is firstplaced on the core member, then the coiled brush [4 is placed on thecore member, and finally the rubber member It at the right is placed onthe core member. Then the nut 22 is screwed in place to hold the variousparts. The end of the core member may be upset, if necessary, to preventthe nut 22 from loosening during use of the implement.

The handle 12 may advantageously be formed of wood. One end thereof isof such size that it can loosely fit the recess 32 in one of the rubbermembers IS, the handle being freely removable from the recess.

In use the .implement is placed in a tube A at one end thereof, as shownin Fig. l. The handle 12 may conveniently be used for placing theimplement, the handle being disengaged from the implement and removed assoon as the implement is in place. If preferred the implement may beplaced manually without using the handle.

When the implement is in the tube, a hose with air or other fluid underpressure is applied to the tube. The fluid acts on the member l6 at theadjacent or trailing end, the said member serving as a piston. The fluidpressure within the recess 32 expands the annular wall 34 so that iteffectively engages or approximately engages the interior surface of thetube, as shown in the upper right portion of Fig. 1 and as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3, thus insuring a substantial fit and enabling thefluid pressure to effectively drive the implement through the tube. Theinitial diameter of the cylindrical brush I4 is preferably slightlygreater than the interior diameter of the tube, and as the implement isdriven through the tube the brush [4 effectively cleans the interiorsurface. The implement emerges from the opposite end of the tube, andthe continuing fluid flow removes any scale or other dirt that has beenloosened by the brush l4.

The rubber member 18 at the leading end extends endwise substantiallybeyond the corresponding head on the core member, and it acts as abumper when the rapidly moving implement engages the head of thecondenser or any other stationary object. This prevents any damage tothe implement Or to the object which it may strike.

Inasmuch as the two rubber members are identical in construction, eitherof them may serve as a piston and either of them may serve as a bumper.Thus the implement is reversible and it is immaterial which end thereofis leading or trailing.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning implement adapted to be moved longitudinally through atube to be cleaned, the combination of a unitary cylindrical brushcomprising radially disposed fibers and having an exterior diameter atleast as large asthe interior diameter of the said tube, and two similaroppositely extending rubber members fixedly connected with each otherand fixedly connected with the brush at the opposite ends thereof andeach extending longitudinally beyond any other part of the implementeach of which members has an initial exterior approximating that of thebrush but slightly smaller, each said member being expansible within thesaid tube and being adapted to serve either as a motion limiting bumperor as a piston according to the direction of implement movement throughthe tube and the member which serves as a piston being expanded by fluidpressure applied to the tube at the corresponding end thereof andserving to drive the implement through the said tube.

2. In a cleaning implement adapted to be moved longitudinally through atube to be cleaned, the combination of a unitary cylindrical brush,comprising radially disposed fibers and having an exterior diameter atleast as large as the interior diameter of the said tube, and twosimilar oppositely extending rubber members fixedly connected with eachother and fixedly connected with the brush at the opposite ends thereofand each extending longitudinally beyond any other part of the implementeach of which members has an initial exterior diameter approximatingthat of the brush but slightly smaller and each of which members hastherein a concentric open-ended recess enabling the end portion of themember to expand in response to pressure within the recess, each saidmember being adapted to serve either as a motion limiting bumper or as apiston according to the direction of implement movement through the tubeand the member which serves as a piston being expanded by fluid pressureapplied to the tube at the corresponding end thereof and serving todrive the implement through the said tube.

3. In a cleaning implement adapted to be moved longitudinally through atube to be cleaned, the combination of a central longitudinallyextending core, a cylindrical brush separate from and surrounding thecore which brush comprises radially disposed fibers and has an exteriordiameter at least as large as the interior diameter of the said tube,and two similar oppositely disposed rubber members fixedly connectedwith the core at the opposite ends of the brush and each extendinglongitudinally beyond the core each of which members has an initialexterior diameter approximating that of the brush but slightly smaller,each said member being expansible within the said tube and beingadapted'to serve either as a motion limiting bumper or as a pistonaccording to the direction of implement movement through the tube andthe member which serves as a piston being expanded by fluid pressureapplied to the tube at the corresponding end thereof and serving todrive the implement through the said tube.

4. In a cleaning implement adapted to be moved longitudinally through atube to be cleaned, the combination of a longitudinally extending corehaving a central body and having heads at the ends of the body, acylindrical brush separate from and surrounding the body of the core andpositioned between the heads thereof which brush comprises radiallydisposed fibers and has an exterior diameter at least as large as theinterior diameter of the said tube, and two similar oppositely disposedrubber members at the opposite ends of the brush each having an initialexterior diameter approximating that of the brush but slightly smallereach of which members is provided with a portion fitting the body of thecore between the brush and the corresponding head and each of whichmembers is provided with an open-ended recess within which thecorresponding head of the core is located, each said member extendinglongitudinally beyond the core and being adapted to serve either as amotion limiting bumper or as a piston according to the direction ofmovement through the tube and the member which serves as a piston beingexpanded by fluid pressure applied to the tube at the corresponding endthereof and serving to drive the implement through the said tube.

5. In a cleaning implement adapted to be moved longitudinally through atube to be cleaned, the combination of a longitudinally extending corehaving a central body and having heads at the ends of the body, acylindrical brush comprising an elongated brush element withtransversely disposed fibers which brush element is helically wound tofit the body of the core member between the heads thereof with thefibers disposed radially, the exterior diameter of the brush being atleast as large as the interior of the said tube, and two similaroppositely disposed rubber piston members at the opposite ends of thebrush each having an initial exterior diameter approximating that of thebrush but slightly smaller each of which members is provided with aportion fitting the body of the core and extending between and engagingthe brush and the corresponding head, the last said portion of eachmember being shaped at its inner end to fit the corresponding endportion of the helically wound brush element and the said portion havinga shoulder adjacent the corresponding end of the brush element.

6. A cleaning implement as set forth in claim 5, wherein each rubbermember extends longitudinally beyond the core and has a concentricopen-ended recess therein enabling the end portion of the member toexpand in response to pressure within the recess and wherein each rubbermember is adapted to serve either as a motion limiting bumper or as apiston according to the direction of implement movement through thetube, the member which serves as a piston being expanded by fluidpressure applied to the tube at the corresponding end thereof andserving to drive the implement through the said tube.

7. The combination of a cleaning implement adapted to be movedlongitudinally through a tube to be cleaned, the said implementincluding a cylindrical brush comprising radially disposed fibers andhaving an exterior diameter at least as large as the interior diameterof the said tube and also including two oppositely disposed pistonmembers fixedly connected with the brush at the opposite ends thereofand extending longitudinally beyond any other portion of the implementeach of which member has an initial exterior diameter approximating thatof the brush but slightly smaller and each of which members has thereina concentric open-ended recess of substantially uniform diameter, and ahandle which fits the said recess in one of the piston members and isfreely removable therefrom and is adapted to similarly fit the recess inthe other of the piston members, the said handle serving to place theimplement in a tube.

References Cited in the file of thi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 95,468 Greenfield Oct. 5, 1869 1,218,005 Schlemmer Mar. 6,1917 1,325,348 Bowman Dec. 16, 1919 1,580,294 Gawley Apr. 13, 19261,598,771 Gerhardt Sept. 7, 1926 1,713,895 Ford May 21, 1929 2,087,414Schaer July 20, 1937 2,194,122 Krams Mar. 19, 1940 2,298,752 CrockfordOct. 13, 1942 2,332,490 Rowland Oct. 19, 1943

